Why work?
INTRODUCTION
In this assignment you are going to think about the reasons why people would
want, or even need, work to fulfil their needs. Their reasons might be of a
personal nature but might also be influenced by circumstances and people. Do
your parents play an important role, is school or other experiences important? Are
you really free to choose what you like?
WORK ETHICS
Work ethics include the standards and values that people practice with regards to
work, or their attitude towards work. Work ethics not only include how one feels
about a job, career or vocation, but also how one does his/her job or
responsibilities. This involves attitude, behaviour, respect, communication, and
interaction; how one gets along with others. Work ethics demonstrate many things
about who a person is and how they behave, and can include characteristics such
as honesty and accountability. Essentially, work ethics break down to what one
does or would do in a particular situation. This can include making decisions
about what you think is right and above board, versus what is wrong or
underhanded.
You may for instance find work important or less important. You may find
discipline in work important, or that earning money is more important than meeting
people.
TASK 1
If you look at the map below you will notice that people in different countries differ considering the
attitude towards work.
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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a. Rank the factors below according to how important you think they are
A nice family
Good friends
A pleasant job
Religion
Wealth
Freedom
Health
Children
A just society
Knowledge
b. How important will work be in your life?
Put your choice on a scale 1-10 (where 1 is low, and 10 the highest) 1.2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10.
c. Why will work be more or less important for you?
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d. Do you think you have a moral obligation to work? Why (not)?
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TASK 2
READ THE SOURCE UNDERNEATH
Maslow: A Classification of Needs
“Classic economic theory, based as it is on an inadequate theory of human motivation, could be
revolutionized by accepting the reality of higher human needs, including the impulse to selfactualization and the love for the highest values”
Abraham Maslow
The classification of fundamental human needs most often cited today is probably the one developed
by psychologist Abraham H. Maslow. Maslow presents the following categories of needs and wants
which make human beings think, act, and respond as they do:
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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Physiological Needs: for food, drink, air, sleep, sex - the
basic body requirements.
Safety Needs: for security, stability, protection from harm
or injury; need for structure, orderliness, law, predictability;
freedom from fear and chaos.
Belongingness and Love Needs: for love, devotion and
affection with spouse, children, parents, and close friends;
need to feel a part of social groups; need for acceptance
and approval.
Esteem Needs: for self-esteem based on achievement,
mastery, competence, confidence, freedom,
independence; desire for esteem of others (reputation,
prestige, recognition, status).
Self-Actualization Needs: for self-fulfillment, actually to
become what you potentially can be; desire to realise your
capabilities; being true to your essential; realizing your
purpose in life.
According to Maslow, the hierarchy is prepotent: lower-level needs must be
largely fulfilled before higher-level needs can be.
Finally, it should be noted that motives do not always automatically produce
certain courses of action. Physiologically, an individual may sense a sharp feeling of pain from not
having eaten for two days; yet, because of social-cultural needs or pressures, this person will not
gobble down a chocolate cake when presented with one, but will sit politely with a fork and napkin.
The need for social approval may control the way a person satisfies physiological needs.
Nevertheless, the hierarchy of prepotency is useful in conceptualizing human motivation, even if
individuals vary in ways they manifest those needs.
Many scholars point out that Maslow’s hierarchy lacks any real proof. These
needs may not always operate in a hierarchy, as Maslow says. For example, esteem needs may still
motivate even when lower order needs remain unmet. However, it continues to be a popular model
for understanding human motivation.
a.
What needs in the Maslow classification might work fulfil? Explain.
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b.
Is voluntary work a kind of work? Where does it fit into the classification?
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c.
Is housework a kind of work? Where does it fit into the classification?
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Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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d.
Under Maslow’s Hierarchy money would be recognized within the safety category
(or a base need for behavior). When you have money you feel secure, because you have a resource
you need to survive. Is money used by people to fulfill other needs as well? How?
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Now look at the following map
TASK 3
Obviously job satisfaction is not the same in all European countries. Why could people in some
countries be less satisfied than others? Job satisfaction can be related to
-working circumstances
-working conditions
-working relations
-work culture
Read the following source:
Working in Germany
Many foreigners need some time to adapt to the German attitude to work. People don't tend to work
long hours; in many offices, especially in the public sector, the day ends at around 4 pm.
However, there is a strong emphasis on efficiency, people use their working time to be highly
productive and there is little or no time spent socializing or chatting. The exception to this is during
break periods, which are usually 15 minutes, with 45 minutes for lunch.
Management culture in Germany is usually highly hierarchical. Germans like to work on well-thoughtout plans and make fact-based decisions. Orderly and well scheduled meetings form a large part of
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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what tends to be a consensual, group approach to decision-making. Punctuality is expected and
lateness is not tolerated, so be careful, especially if you're from a country where this is tolerated!
Salaries
Salaries in Germany are among the highest in the world. Most jobs for graduates start from
€30,000/year. Student jobs or unqualified work is generally paid around €10-15/hour. Salaries are
usually talked about as the gross figure, i.e. before deductions for tax and social security. Be aware
that taxes, depending on your salary, can be more than 50% of your gross salary, so don't get gross
and net figures confused!
Salary is stated monthly in your employment contract, which should also detail special benefits,
bonuses and salary reviews. Many employers pay 13th monthly payment a year, which is normally
paid out in December for Christmas or split between summer and Christmas. In some management
positions, you might even get a 14th salary.
(http://www.justlanded.com/english/Germany/Germany-Guide/Jobs/Working-in-Germany) :
Give examples of differences in circumstances, conditions, relations and culture between the
example about and where you live.
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Why would people in different countries be more or less satisfied with their jobs. Find arguments for
two of the countries which differ a lot.
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Are Germans in general satisfied with their work? What could be the reasons?
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Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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EVALUATION OUESTIONS
What did you learn about motivation of people for work?
What did you learn about differences between people in Europe?
What did you learn about which aspects of work can be important?
What did you learn about things you find important yourself?
What did you like about the assignment?
What didn’t you like about the assignment?
Do you have any comments?
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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TEACHER INFORMATION
This assignment has been developed by the Comenius Project “European Values Education (EVE)”.
The aim of this project is to let pupils know more about European Values by using the results/maps of
the European Values Study and films. The films will play a role in other assignments. The theme of
this assignment is work. Other themes will be religion, family and society.
In this assignment the theory of intrinsic and extrinsic work motivation plays a central role. The aim is
to let pupils understand this theory and to let them think about why an extrinsic work motivation could
be important in their future.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Subject: comparison of motives for working in different countries (work ethics)
Objectives:
1. Students can explain what is the meaning of work for individuals and society
2. Students can (with real examples) explain what is meant by material and immaterial functions of
work for individual people and can compare these functions internationally.
4. Students can explore factors influencing the experience of quality of work and compare them
internationally
RELATIONS TO CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
a) Describing differences (and recognising similarities) – In the first assignment students become
aware of the different attitudes people in Europe might have towards work and get to know the
concept "work ethics".
b) Investigating explanations. Based on the Maslow pyramid, students investigate why some
people could value work more highly than others and what might be ways and reasons. This
assignment is mainly on values people attribute to work in their lives. There is a kind of hierarchy
in needs depending on the situation people are in.
c) Relating the values in the AoEV to their own. In assignment 2 and 3 students are challenged to
think about their own motives to work and to relate them to those of other people in Europe.
d) Developing critical perspectives through questioning, metacognition, and critical thinking. In
assignment 3 students are challenged to think about the conditions influencing the satisfaction in
work. The think about working conditions favourable for a positive attitude towards work. In all
assignments they are challenged to think critically about the quality of work
ANSWERS AND SUGGESTIONS
TASK 1:
a.
This assignment is meant to distinguish various aspects of life relevant for
personal happiness. It’s important to emphasize the difference between personal, individual aspects
and aspects related to society (freedom, democracy). Make an inventory of individual answers and
try to make a class result.
b.
This assignment is meant to make pupils think about their future wishes with
reference to their work.
c.
Why will work be more or less important for you?
Reflection on motives for working. The different functions of work for the individual could include:

Money to live from
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Money for luxury
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Social contacts

To avoid boredom
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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
To get esteem in society
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To avoid tension at home
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To have structure in your life
Interesting: http://www.whywork.org/rethinking/contemporary.html
d.
Do you think you have a moral obligation to work? Why (not)?
This is a good opportunity for a debate. Arguments can include:
For:
1.
You have an obligation to contribute to society
2.
Everybody pays taxes
3.
Work makes you feel happy
4.
Work means development and improvement
5.
Work keeps people busy and active
6.
Work is the best way to fight poverty
AGAINST
1.
Work creates inequality
2.
People don’t work to live
3.
Work is a kind of slavery
4.
People work too hard
5.
Work destroys natural resources
TASK 2
a.
What needs in the Maslow classification might work fulfil? Explain.
Of course physiological needs, but work might be important for people to get esteem and to find their
true vocation. This may not be the case for lesser-paid jobs where basic needs are in general more
dominant. The distinction between different kinds of work (blue collar/white collar, brain/hand, well
paid/badly paid, office/production) could be made here.
b.
Is voluntary work work? Where does it fit into the classification?
The focus of pupils might be on paid work as the only criterion for work being work. Does all work
have to be paid? What about studying, or work for charities? Why would people do unpaid work?
c.
Is housework work? Where does it fit into the classification?
Do people choose to do housework or are they forced to do it?
For questions b and c it would be nice to have a wallpaper discussion (Pupils write their views on big
sheets of paper and others can react to them.)
d.
Under Maslow’s Hierarchy money would be recognized within the safety category
(or a basic need). When you have money you feel secure, because you have a resource you need to
survive.
Is money used by people to fulfill other needs as well? How?
Statement: money can buy you anything in the needs hierarchy.
Have students think of examples by cutting out advertisements in which the satisfaction of various
needs is promised.
For instance:
By buying a specific car you get attention
By smoking cigarettes you get friends
By wearing specific clothes you are sexy
By doing specific work (e.g. army) you get status
TASK 3
Obviously satisfaction with jobs is not similar in all European countries.
Why could people in some countries be less satisfied than others?
Job satisfaction can be related to
-working circumstances: room, chairs, safety, health, breaks, etc.
-working conditions: wages, rules, taxes, holidays, etc.
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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-working relations: responsibilities, rights of employees, decisionmaking, etc.
-kind of work: routinework, alone/in groups, level of education, etc.
a. Give examples of differences in circumstances, conditions, relations and kind of work.
Working circumstances: in poor countries there is less money to spend on good facilities
Working conditions: in countries with few government jobs there is less control of the government on
working conditions
Working relations: in countries with a tradition of more power, employees will have less power
Kind of work: in agricultural countries there will be more heavy work
b. Now why would people in different countries be more or less satisfied with their jobs. Find
arguments for two of the countries which differ a lot.
Compare highly industrialized countries with more agricultural countries.
Compare rich and poor countries
Compare countries with a highly developed welfare state with countries with a weak welfare state.
Compare countries with a high employment rate with countries with a low rate.
c. Are Germans in general satisfied with their work? What could be reasons?
There is a lot of security in Germany and the welfare state is strong. Unemployment is relatively low.
References:
Alain de Botton (2009): The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
Richard Sennett (2008): The Crafsmen
Richard Sennett (2006): The Culture of the New Capitalism
Abraham Maslow(1954). Motivation and Personality.
Rob van Otterdijk – Fontys University of Applied Sciences Tilburg/ The Netherlands
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